From Edie: Lilka Raphael shares how writers can overcome fear of rejection, failure, and success, build confidence, and move forward in their writing journey with faith.
3 Fears That Hold Writers Back and How to Overcome Them
by Lilka Raphael @Lilka_Raphael
Of all the liars in the world, sometimes the worst are our own fears. -Rudyard Kipling
I’ve never been fond of ghouls and goblins, and you won’t catch me reading a gory thriller. Yet as an author, I’ve faced things far more intimidating. Here are three fears every writer must overcome to thrive in their career.
Fear of Rejection
I don’t know any author who is immune to this one. The fear of rejection not only keeps us from exploring new opportunities, but it can also prevent us from learning what we need to improve. We can never discover which direction to proceed if we are reluctant to share our work with others.
However, the easiest way to overcome rejection is to write with purpose. Rejection can lead writers to pursue what’s marketable. But publishing trends change. Instead, write from the heart. When our work provides solutions, sparks thought, or entertains, it will eventually find an audience. In addition, we can counter this fear by replacing it with anticipation. Embracing feedback as a tool instead of something to dread makes submitting our work to editors less daunting.
Fear of Failure
Failure is relative. Some writers worry that they will never publish. Other authors panic about selling too few copies. No matter what we write, there is an opportunity to allow insecurities to derail our efforts. Whatever doesn’t work offers revelation that can guide us to produce something that will.
Consider that many prolific authors didn’t succeed overnight. They accumulated hundreds of rejection letters over decades of writing. Don’t allow fear to deliver regret years from now. We won’t know what we can accomplish if we never try.
Fear of Success
Finally, there is the fear of success. So what is there to fear after accomplishing your goal or meeting a milestone? The inability to replicate those results.
For some writers it may be a blog post that goes viral. The author may fret over the ability to write another. Then there are published authors who are considered successful. Still, doubt can swell and stoke fear that they aren’t talented enough to produce another bestseller. Imposter Syndrome is real. Yet we can remedy it by constantly acknowledging that God enables our accomplishments. We aren’t doing this alone.
There is also the fear of what comes with success such as fans or followers to appease. There may be necessary constraints on your time. Newfound attention can be agonizing for introverted authors.
Whatever we fear deflates when we face it. Our Father can show us how. And if we can’t shake our fears, we can do it afraid. As we remain diligent and keep writing, we eventually learn that there is nothing to fear.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV
TWEETABLE
Lilka’s greatest achievements are her two adult sons who have flown the nest. Happily married for thirty-two years, she lives east of Atlanta with her husband, Rod. They now share their home with two German Shepherds—Holly and Ivy—and one naughty kitty, Moxie.
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